Biology
Lactate Threshold
Quick fact
At the lactate threshold, blood lactate levels can double within minutes of increasing exercise intensity.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever felt a burning sensation in your legs during a long run? It’s not just fatigue—it’s your body’s warning sign about energy production.
Read the full explanation
Understanding Lactate Threshold
During steady-state aerobic exercise, your body efficiently uses oxygen to produce energy. But when you push harder, it switches to anaerobic metabolism. This causes lactate (a byproduct) to build up in the blood faster than it can be cleared. The point where this happens is called the lactate threshold.
A deeper explanation
The lactate threshold marks a critical shift from using mostly oxygen-based energy systems to relying more on anaerobic processes, which produce less efficient energy and create waste products like lactate. Athletes train near this threshold to improve their ability to sustain higher intensities without fatigue, making it a key factor in endurance performance.